(Disclaimer: This fandom is antsy over ships. I do need to state that I don't technically ship Madosaya, so as a result this was challenging and interesting to write, as I had to take extra steps to justify their interactions. Even if you don't ship it, take it for what it is.)

"Why are you so nice…" Sayaka Miki was standing outside her apartment, head down, bangs hiding her eyes. Her fist was clenched, shaking slightly, trying to get a handle on the emotions that were coursing through her. "I don't deserve such kindness…"

"Huh?" Madoka Kaname was a bit taken aback. She could've understood a simple "Yes" or "No" to her request to come along on the witch hunt, but something with Sayaka seemed critically wrong.

"I had a moment today where I almost regretted something… I thought…" A few tears began to spot the ground at Sayaka's face.. "I thought, maybe it would've been better if I hadn't saved Hitomi." The tears were flowing now as her voice cracked. "I completely fail at being an ally of justice." Madoka immediately moved in to comfort her with an embrace. "I'm going to lose Kyousuke to Hitomi, and there's nothing I can do!" Sayaka sobbed into her shoulder. "He could never love me with a body like this! I'm already dead!"

Madoka gently began to caress Sayaka's back, trying as she could to console her. She felt tears coming to her own eyes, out of nothing more than an overwhelming sense of empathy. "Please don't cry, Sayaka…" she whimpered. Her hand brushed through Sayaka's hair. "It's going to be alright…"

Sayaka's sobs gradually came to an end. She held the embrace a few seconds longer before stepping back, wiping her eye. "I'm fine now… Thanks," she said with a fake smile.

Then, suddenly Madoka stepped forward, leaning in and kissing Sayaka gently on the lips. Sayaka was totally taken aback. She blushed slightly. Madoka was blushing as well, "Are you feeling better?"

Sayaka hesitated before coming to her senses. She shook her head. "What the heck was that for!?" she retorted.

"Sorry…" Madoka began. She suddenly felt very small. Why did she do that? It was bad enough she had almost gotten Sayaka killed… Now she had the audacity to play with her heart. Why am I such a terrible person.

"I-I mean, at least let me get ready first…" Sayaka crossed her arms and looked off to the side. "You're lucky you're cute."

"Sayaka-chan, I'm so sorry… I don't know-" Sayaka cut her off. "It's fine, just… Ugh." The hero of justice turned around and put her hands behind her head. After some contemplation, she turned her head to Madoka. "I know you want to come… And I know you're worried about me, but… Would you mind if I went alone tonight? I want to think some things through…"

Madoka looked at her shoes. "I understand…"

"How about this… Since we don't have school tomorrow, how about I just meet at your house when I'm done? We can have a sleepover, just like old times." Sayaka turned in full and tried to give a reassuring smile to her friend. It seemed to work, as Madoka's mouth curled into a small, cautious smile.

"Alright… Just," she stepped forward to hug Sayaka again, "please come back… Please be careful."

Sayaka lowered her arms slowly and embraced her friend tightly. She tucked her head down a little to kiss Madoka's head. "Don't worry, I will. I promise."

Sayaka was at Madoka's doorstep before 9. Madoka promptly greeted her friend, as the two moved to the couch in the living room with some hot cocoa.

"That was quick," Madoka commented. "How many witches did you find?"

"None." Sayaka took a drink of her cocoa. "I guess that's a plus, for the city of Mitahikara…" She took out her soul gem, examining it. There was some clouding, worsened by her grieving. At least the gem was in a tolerable state. "Good thing I don't need a grief seed right now."

"Yeah…" Madoka said with a shudder.

Sayaka changed the subject. "Earlier this night… You…" her voice trailed off. "What was that about?"

"I'm sorry, Sayaka… I'm so sorry for that…" Madoka began, the sense of defeat returning to her voice.

"Don't apologize, I just want to know why," Sayaka pressed.

"I care about you, Sayaka… You've always tried so hard to do what's best for everyone." Madoka shifted in her seat. "To be honest I'm not sure what came over me… I thought it just might be worth a try, take the risk… I feel so helpless around you now." She pulled in her legs and rested her chin on her knees. "I know I'm being selfish…"

Sayaka felt a little softened by Madoka's words. She swirled her cocoa around in her cup. "Well, you're lucky you're cute," she said, slightly dismissive. Oddly it brought Madoka's mind to ease a bit more, making the issue feel a little less weighty. "Kyouko's not bothering me anymore, and with the lack of witches tonight, I was able to do a lot of thinking… If I hadn't saved Hitomi, wouldn't I still have regrets? Wouldn't they be worse than what I felt today?"

She set her cocoa on the coffee table and crossed her legs. "Did I really make my wish because I wanted Kyousuke to have a better life, or did I make the wish because I wanted him to love me?" She leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "I cannot have any regrets. I didn't wish for Kyousuke's affection. I don't even know if he has any feelings for me at this point. But, if my wish made someone's life better, then that needs to be enough for me." She sighed. "Sometimes life will deal you a bad hand. That's what I got, I guess. Or took on, when I became a Magical Girl."

"Would you have changed your wish if you could go back?" Madoka asked.

Sayaka shook her head. "I don't have any regrets about the wish. I can accept if I had some ulterior motives back then, but when I made the wish, I made sure it was as selfless as possible, ulterior motives or not. Reflecting back, that was definitely the right choice." She turned her head to Madoka with a smile, betraying the sorrow in her blue eyes. "I might be a screw up, but I got it right where it mattered the most."

Madoka placed her hand on Sayaka's shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze. "That's very sweet of you, Sayaka-chan. I'm proud of you."

Sayaka reached over and brushed Madoka's bangs from her eyes. "Did you want to try again, by the way? Now that I'm ready?"

Madoka stared for a moment, then suddenly recalled her kissing Sayaka earlier and blushed. "But-I-..." she stammered.

God she's cute. "How long've you felt that way, Madoka?" Sayaka asked, a slight hint of teasing to her voice.

"A year or so…" Madoka murmured. "You've always been there for me… I just didn't want to make things awkward between us or come between you and Kyousuke, so I tried to dismiss the thoughts."

"Well, considering circumstances, neither of those things are an issue anymore." Sayaka shrugged. "Plus who knows, tomorrow I might be eaten by a witch! No harm in trying something before that happens."

"Sayaka, don't say such things!" Madoka flung her fists at Sayaka in a few play-punches. "You're not gonna be eaten by a witch!"

Sayaka defended herself from the flurry of fists as she pounced at Madoka. "Right! The hero of justice will never be defeated!" She grabbed Madoka and squeezed her tightly. "And if you're ever in trouble, I'll come riding in and save you, my princess!"

Madoka giggled. "Sayaka, stop!" she exclaimed, pretending to struggle to get Sayaka off. Their wrestling and struggling soon died down. Madoka was still in Sayaka's grip, but their eyes met as warm smiles were exchanged.

"Gosh you're cute. Does anyone ever tell you that?" Sayaka commented. Madoka blushed, but couldn't move her hands up to cover her face, as she was restrained by Sayaka.

So, instead, she leaned forward to touch Sayaka's nose with her own. They nuzzled, then tilted their heads to kiss each other on the lips tenderly.

Sayaka's soul gem sat on the coffee table. It its blue tones radiated, dispersing some of the dark swirls that once clouded it.